Horses have an extremely long and varied history. Horses are beautiful animals and seem to have a spiritual presence. Their ability to pick up on our emotions and their sensitivity to our moods imbues them with something of a mysticism. Perhaps this is why horses throughout the ages have been a focal point of many myths and legends.
The Magical Unicorn.
One of the most well known mythical horses is the Unicorn, which has long captured the heart of the young and the old. There are different names and legends ascribed to the unicorn across many different cultures. The story of the origin of the Chinese written language involves a unicorn by the name of Ki Lin who showed it to Emperor Fu His over five thousand years ago. The legend states that the Emperor traced into the dirt on the ground the symbols in which the unicorn was covered. The story goes that this is how the written Chinese language originated.
In Arabia the unicorn is called the Karkadaan. It is a ferocious war like creature that can appear in different forms. The unicorn makes its first appearance in 416 BC in written accounts from India. White in colour, this creature had dark blue eyes and a long horn atop a dark red head.
The European unicorn – according to folk legend – is like a horse, but smaller in statue, around three feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds. The unicorn of Northern Europe is described as being either white or cream. In Southern Europe they are described as being nearly black to a golden colour. Contained in the unicorn’s horn are the magical powers of healing, so the legend goes.
The unicorn as it is depicted today is similar to the European description, but larger and more closely resebling a horse. It is said to look exactly like a horse with a horn in the middle of its head. It is usually depicted as being pure white, however it has even been described as being colours like pink, purple and blue.
The mythical American version of the unicorn is still very popular today with people all ages, but especially with children. Many books, films, stories and even kids’ toys feature a mythical beast which we call the unicorn. We all know that the existence of the unicorn is but a fairy-tale, but that fairy-tale continues to delight generation after generation.
The Magical Flying Horse.
Another horse type creature that has been written about in mythology and other stories is Pegasus.Pegasus – the winged steed of the hero Bellerophon – was the offspring of Medusa and Poseidon, and had many mystic powers, according to Greek mythology. By way of honour, the Greek god Zeus allowed his thunderbolts to be carried by Pegasus. Celeris and Melanippe were the offspring of Pegasus and Eiuppe. The legend goes that on the last day of Pegasus’s life Zeus changed him into a constellation that can still be seen today.
A Good Luck Symbol.
In many countries and to many people the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck. How exactly this came to be is unclear, yet it is one of the most famous superstitions relating to horses. Some say it is because it is crescent shaped and that shape is suppose to be symbolic of protection. Another belief states that it is lucky by virtue of having been worn by a horse which embues it with such. Blacksmiths were once believed to have supernatural powers; magicians to be able to work with iron, whch was said to have magical powers of its own. Iron horseshoes were hung in doorways to ward off witches and demons for this reason.
Another lucky aspect of the horseshoe is the fact there are seven nail holes in each one. In some cultures the number seven is considered a lucky number. An ancient belief states that if a horse’s shoes were made from the iron of a sword which had killed someone, then that horse would forever be as swift as lightening and never grow fatigued.
Throughout the ages there have been many old wives’ tales and superstitions about horses and donkeys. Some of the strangest and most interesting superstitions surrounding horses are listed below.
- If a horse stepped in the paw print of a wolf it would become crippled.
- Changing the name of a horse is said to bring bad luck to the horse’s owner.
- To cure whooping cough you inhale a horse’s breath.
- To cure toothaches and snakebites you ride on a donkey sitting backwards.
- To change the bad luck associated with breaking a mirror you would lead a horse through your house.
- To prevent a witch from casting a spell on your horse you would carry a rowan wood whip.
- Horse hair used to encircle a wart would get rid of it.
- To protect yourself from witches you take the tail hair from a black stallion and wear it on your wrist.
- If you put pennies in your water tank this can prevent a mare becoming irritable or grumpy.
- To improve the tone of a piano a horse’s skull was put underneath the floor where the piano was.
Horses are amazing animals and do seem to have an elusive air of mystical presence. Certainly they inspire awe in most who are fortunate to come into contact with them. This mysterious ability to awe and inspire is perhaps why so many civilisations and cultures hold the horse dear to their hearts. As such an integral part of our folklore and legend, horses have and always will be part of the stories we tell our children.
This article has been published for the millions of horse enthusiasts all over the world by Animal Friends Equine Insurance – the UK’s only not-for-profit horse insurance provider. You can buy horse rider insurance today online or by phone, and all net profits go towards helping animals in crisis around the globe.